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A Hedge, Backwards

Dates | Cast | Text | Audio

Originally recorded on 28th February 1956.

First broadcast on the BBC Third Programme on 29th February 1956, 8.35 - 9.55 p.m.

Repeated on 2nd March 1956, 8.35 - 9.55 p.m.

Repeated on 4th February 1958, 9.10 - 10.30 p.m.

Repeated on 29th August 1969

Repeated on BBC R3 on 30th December 1987, 5.10 - 6.35pm, in memory of Douglas Cleverdon.

Asa Briggs' Sound and Vision (OUP, 1979) lists a 1955 production called The Patient of Henry Shewin. It is possible that this was an early working title of A Hedge, backwards.

The published text is dedicated to Carleton Hobbs

Hilda Tablet	Mary O'Farrell
Herbert Reeve	Hugh Burden
Stephen Shewin	Carleton Hobbs
Connie Shewin	Gwen Cherrell
Elsa Strauss	Marjorie Westbury
Nancy Shewin	Dorothy Primrose
Owen Shewin	Denis Quilley
Brian Shewin	Wilfred Downing
George Shewin	Marjorie Westbury
Janet Shewin	Gwen Cherrell
Milly, Muffy, etc.	Vivienne Chatterton
General Gland	Deryck Guyler
Neville Pikelet	Allan McClelland
Hélène	Cécile Chevreau
Richard Shewin's prose	Derek Hart
Characters in Richard Shewin's prose
Peter	Michael Meacham
Paul	Denis Quilley
Mrs Bannister	Vivienne Chatterton
Roger	Michael Meacham
Billy	Frank Duncan
Jenny	Janette Richer
Roger's mother (Daisy Treddle)	Vivienne Chatterton
Music composed by Donald Swann
Produced by Douglas Cleverdon

Favourite lines:

"I am a hedge, Mr Reeve. I am also one of Nature's dartboards."

Supported by backstage.bbc.co.uk